Vaginal irrigator.



PATENTED AUG.

C. O. FARRINGTON. VAGINAL IRRIGATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Imola, 1902. BENBWED DBO. 5. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

@ Igazgfor.

rring Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.,

CHARLES O. EARRING-TON, OF PALESTINE, TEXAS.

VAGINAL IRRIGATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 766,336, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed December 13,1902. Renewed December 5, 1903. Serial No. 183,976. No model.)

T0 (LZ, mil/om it Wtwy/ con/cern:

Be it known that I, CnARLns O. EARRING- ToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palestine, in the county of Anderson and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Vaginal Irrig'ator, of which the following' is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in vaginal syringes, and has for its principal object to provide a device by which the vag'ina ma.;r be dilated and its walls held smooth and free from the natural folds, so that a cleansing fluid may act on the entire surface of the membrane.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the cleansing' fluid may be directed into intimate contact with the entire cervix, the external os, and cul-de-sacs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily adjusted and removed and which will automatically adjust itself in cases ot inalposition of the uterus without pain or incon-V venience to the patient.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being' understood that various changes in the forni, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a vaginal ii'rig'ator constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig'. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Figs. 3, 4, and are transverse sectional elevations of the device on the corresponding section-lines of Fig'. 2. E ig'. 6 is a detail perspective View of a portion of the discharge-tube.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The main tube l() of the irrigator is prefer'- ably slightly curved and at its inner end is provided with a detachable rose l1, having numerous small perforations to permit the discharge of jets of fluid in all directions. Near the inner end of the tube l0 are longitudinal parallel slots l2 of any desired number, four being' shown in the present construction. The strips or ribs 13 between the slots are provided with perforations lei to permit the discharg'e of the water or other liuid.

In the body portion of the tube l0 are arranged four passages 16, extending' from the outer ends of t-he slots l2 to the outer end of said tube and adapted for the reception of a corresponding number of thin strips 17, formed of spring-steel, the inner ends of the springs being' secured to the tube and that portion of their length opposite the slots 19. being' adapted to pass through the slots in bowed form to act as dilators when endwise pressure is exerted on the outer ends of said springs.

18 designates a sleeve or collar which is fitted over the inner end of the tube l0 and is provided with slots 19. and perforations 11M, corresponding' to those of the tube and in alinement therewith. The sleeve serves as a securing device for a strip or tube 19 of thin rubber of great elasticity, the rubber covering the spring' dilators and being' stretched as the dilators are forced out through the slots. The rubber further prevents injury to the membrane as the dilators are allowed to return within the slots.

At the onteiend of the main tube l0 is secured a smaller tube 20, preferably formed of metal and provided at its extreme outer end with the usual ribbed or spherical head for attaclnnent to a fluid-supply tube leading' from an elevated reservoir or a forcing-bulb. The tube 2O is provided with a small curved plate 22 near its outer' end for convenience in holding the device in adjusted position, and on its upper surface are teeth or serrations 24 fora purpose hereinafter described.

Mounted on the tube l() and sliding' freely thereon is a slightly-curved tube 25, having' at its outer end a rigid collar 2G, the opening' in which is of sutlicient diameter to perinit the entrance of the tube-section 20, and said tube is provided with a threaded opening for the'passage of a thumb-screw 27, adapted to make contact with the teeth or serrations 24 of the tube and confine the tube 25 in any position to which it may be adjusted. To the collar 26 are Asecured the outer ends of the several dilating-springs 17 so that inward movement of the tube and collar after the introduction of the tube lOwill force the springs outwardly to eifect any desired degreel of dilation, the springs being locked in dilating position by the thumb-screw 27.

On the tube lO is mounted a tightly-fitting rlongitudinally-adjustable shield or protector 30 to engage the person and prevent accidental discharge of thefluid. The shield is formed l of rubber of suitable shape forthe purpose intended, and one end of its tube-engaging collar is provided with an annular groove 33 for the reception of a pair of concentric rings 34C, formed of metal and connected to the inner'flattened end of a metal-lic discharge-tube 35, which extends through the shield and terminates in a rounded end portion for engagement with a rubber or other discharge-tube which may lead to a suitable vessel on the Hoor to receive the discharged liquid.

With a device of this character large quantities of water or other Huid may be directed into contact with the entire surface of the membrane and is found of especial value in the treatment of various utero-cervical diseases.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isl. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a huid-supply tube having a plurality of parallel slots, of springs arranged within the tube and adapted to be partly projected through the slots, said springs having their inner ends secured to the tube, an adjustable member secured to the outer ends of said springs, and elastic covers extending around that portion of the springs which project through the slots.

2. The combination with a slotted iuid-supply tube, of a plurality of springs guided within the tube and having' their inner ends secured thereto, an auxiliary slotted collar, elastic materialY confined between the collar and the tube and covering the several slots, and an adjustable member secured to the outer ends of the springs to permit the projection of the springs through the slots.

3. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a slotted Huid-supply tube, of a plurality of springs guided within the tube and normally lying within the peripheral line thereof, said springs having their inner ends secured to the tube, and an adjustable member secured to the outer ends of said springs and adapted to force the latter through the slots of the tube.

4. In a device of the class specified, a slotted uid supply tube having longitudinally disln a device of the class specified, the coml bination with a slotted fluid-introducing tube, of a plurality of springs normally disposed within the line of the tube and adapted to be projected through the slots, and an independent elastic cover for each of said springs.

6. In a device of the class speciiied, the combination with a slotted fluid-introducing tube provided with peripheral discharge-openings, of a plurality of springs arranged within the tube, means for projecting the springs through the slots to act as dilators, and a rose varranged at the eXtreme inner end of said tube.

7. In a device ofthe class specied, the -combination with a slotted fluid-introducing tube, of a plurality of dilating-springs normally lying within the peripheral'line of the tube and having their inner ends secured to the inner end of the tube, an outer tube member mounted upon the main tube and adjustable longitudinally thereof, said outer tube being secured to the outer ends of the springs, and means for locking said outer tube in adjusted position. l

8. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a slotted Huid-introducing tube, of a plurality of dilating-springs having their inner ends secured to the inner end of the tube, a secondary tube member having at one end a hose-connecting means, an outer adjustable tube secured to the outer ends of the springs, and means for clamping said outer tube in adjusted position.

9. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a slotted Huid-introducing tube, of a plurality of springs having vtheir inner ends secured to said tube and adapted to be projected through the slots, a secondary tube member having a serrated face, an outer tube adjustable longitudinally of the main tubeand secured tothe outer ends of the springs, and a screw carried by said outer tube and adapted to engage the serrations.

10. In a device of the class specified, the combination with the fluid-introducing tube, of a shield formed of yielding material and adjustable longitudinally on the tube, said shield being provided on its forward face with an annular groove, a pair of concentrically-disposed metallic rings arranged within the groove, and serving to hold the same open and a fluid- 'discharge tube having its inner ends connected to the said rings.

ll.` In a device of the class specified, the-combination with a slotted' fluid-introducing tube, of a plurality of dilating-springs having their inner ends secured to one end of the tube, a secondary tube member secured to the irst IOO IIO

and having' at one end a hose-connecting means, a curved plate or holder secured to the said auxiliary tube, an outer tube member adjustable longitudinally of the main tube and provided with locking means for engaging the secondary tube, said outer tube being secured to the outer ends of the springs, a guard adjustable longitudinally of the nlain tube and provided on its forward face with an 10 annular groove, a pair of concentric bands fitting-within said annular groove, and a Huiddischarge tube connected to said bands, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiixed my signature in I5 the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES O. FARRINGTON. Witnesses:

O. C. BUsBv, F. L. DAVIS. 

